Patient Safety Day

World Patient Safety Day was established in 2019 by the World Health Organization, to enhance the global understanding of patient safety, increase public engagement in the safety of health care, promote global actions and reduce patient harm.¹

At Bayer, we take great pride in always putting patient safety and well-being first, ahead of everything else. It is at the core of all that we do and more than just an obligation. That’s why we are proud to have supported World Patient Safety Day since 2019, developing various tools and supportive materials to educate and inform the public about patient safety.

Living with Heart Failure

Heart Failure (HF) is a clinical syndrome characterized by a group of symptoms that result from the inability of the heart to pump blood at a rate sufficient to meet the metabolic demands of the body. It can be a challenge on two main fronts – Identifying symptoms of worsening Heart Failure and managing the side effects of multiple medications.

Despite periods of stabilization, 1 in 6 patients with symptomatic Heart Failure develop worsening Heart Failure within 18 months of diagnosis.² Symptoms that suggest the development of progressively escalating Heart Failure are easily overlooked. This poses risks because these patients require therapy intensification or hospitalization. If left unchecked, it may increase the risk of mortality.³

In addition, studies have shown that ~90% of older Heart Failure patients have at least three other medical conditions⁴ that often require five or more medications, termed “polypharmacy”.⁵ Side effects can occur from Heart Failure medications, or from taking multiple medications at the same time. If not adequately managed, side effects can affect the quality of life and adherence to medications.

Patient Safety Day 2022 aims to raise awareness to patients on the symptoms and medications for Heart Failure. We aim to educate and empower patients to identify Heart Failure symptoms and manage side effects arising from polypharmacy. These would enable them to gain the most health benefits and improve medication adherence.

For further information, please click on the materials below:

Infographics (downloadable)

References

1. WHO. World Patient Safety Day 2021. Available from: https://www.who.int/news-room/events/detail/2021/09/17/default-calendar/world-patient-safety-day-2021. Last accessed: August 2021.
2. Butler J et al. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2019;73:935–944; 2. Greene SJ et al. JAMA Cardiol. 2018;3:252–259; 3. EMA. CPMP/EWP/235/95, Rev.2. Accessed July 2020;
3. MacDonald M et al. J Am Heart Assoc. 2020;9:e012199; 5. Urbich M et al. PharmacoEconomics. 2020; 6. Cook C et al. Int J Cardiol. 2014;171:368–376.
4. Ozan Unlu. Circulation: Heart Failure. Polypharmacy in Older Adults Hospitalized for Heart Failure, Volume: 13, Issue: 11, DOI: (10.1161/CIRCHEARTFAILURE.120.006977).
5. Beezer J, Al Hatrushi M, Husband A, Kurdi A, Forsyth P. Polypharmacy definition and prevalence in heart failure: a systematic review [published online ahead of print, 2021 Jul 2] [published correction appears in Heart Fail Rev. 2021 Jul 31;:]. Heart Fail Rev. 2021;1-28.

MA-M_VER-SG-0137-1 (02/24)